Alstroemeria plant named ‘Konazur’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Konazur’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit; light and dark red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KONAZUR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, grown typically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Konazur’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact potted garden Alstroemeria cultivars that flower early freely and have attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands on Jun. 30, 2003 of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 11248-15, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 16336-4, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands on Jun. 13, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by root divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands since Jun. 20, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Konazur’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Konazur’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plants.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Light and dark red purple-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are taller than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger flowers than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have thinner stems than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have smaller flowers than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Konpride’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,050. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of ‘Konpride’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were broader than plants of         ‘Konpride’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had longer leaves than plants         of ‘Konpride’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger inflorescences and         larger flowers than plants of ‘Konpride’.     -   4. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Konpride’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Konpride’ had bright pink-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Konazur’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Konazur’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands during the spring and summer in 33-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 16° C. Plants had been growing for 36 weeks when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Konazur’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 11248-15, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 16336-4, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; color, close to 161C.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.         -   Rhizome description.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About             5 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Close to             161C. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact and mounded; freely branching, bushy             appearance. Sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 35 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 50 cm. -   Stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Internode length.—About 0.8 cm to 5.9 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single             whorl; all leaves sessile.         -   Length.—About 12.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;             venation, close to N144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly; freely             flowering habit; about four to twelve flowers per             inflorescence; about 40 to 75 flowers develop per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous from the late             spring until the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one to three weeks;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About one to two weeks;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 53A, venation, close to 143A;             towards the apex, close to 70A.         -   Umbel height.—About 12.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 18 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6.1 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6.8 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 5.9 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 1.5 cm. Length, median segment:             About 5.3 cm. Width, median segment: About 1.5 cm. Size,             outer perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 5.2 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 2.5 cm. Length, median             segment: About 5.6 cm. Width, median segment: About 2.4 cm.             Shape, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:             Lanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median             segments: Acute. Apex, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Embedded point. Base, inner and outer perianths,             lateral and median segments: Attenuate. Margin, inner             perianth, lateral and median segments: Entire. Margin, outer             perianth, lateral and median segments: Crenate. Texture,             inner and outer perianths, lateral and median segments:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner perianth: When opening,             lateral segments, upper surface: Towards the base, close to             75B; towards the apex, close to 72B; mid-section, close to             1B; stripes, close to 72A. When opening, median segment,             upper surface: Close to 72B; stripes, close to 72A. When             opening, lateral segments, lower surface: Towards the base,             close to 75A; towards the apex, close to 72A; mid-section,             close to 1B. When opening, median segment, lower surface:             Close to 72B. Fully opened, lateral segments, upper surface:             Towards the base, close to 75B; towards the apex, close to             72B; center, close to 13B; stripes, close to 72A. Color             becoming closer to N78C with development. Fully opened,             median segment, upper surface: Close to 70B; stripes, close             to 72A. Color becoming closer to N78C with development.             Fully opened, lateral segments, lower surface: Towards the             base, close to 75A; towards the apex, close to 77B; apical             spot, close to 72A; center, close to 1B. Fully opened,             median segment, lower surface: Close to 77B; stripes, close             to 72A. Color, outer perianth: When opening, lateral             segments, upper surface: Close to 72B; central spot, close             to 70A. When opening, median segments, lower surface: Close             to 72B; central spot, close to 70A; towards the base, close             to 77C. When opening, lateral and median segments, lower             surface: Close to 77B; central spot, close to 71A; venation,             close to 141A. Fully opened, lateral and median segments,             upper surface: Close to 72B; central spot, close to 70A.             With development, color becoming closer to 77B; central             spot, close to 71A. Fully opened, lateral and median             segments, lower surface: Close to 72B; central spot, close             to 70A; venation, close to 141A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: About 15° to 45° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137B to 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Oval. Anther size: About 8 mm by 2 mm. Anther             color: Close to N199A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to N186A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 5.5 cm. Style length: About 4.3 cm.             Style color: Close to 64B; towards the base, close to 75C.             Stigma color: Close to 64B. Ovary color: Close to 146B.         -   Fruits.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Color:             Close to 200C.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: About three to ten. Length: About             5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: Close to 165A. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain     and temperatures ranging from about 6° C. to about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Konazur’ as illustrated and described. 